Two things make for tech accessories that see regular use: having them with you when you need them, and being simple enough to use on a repeated basis. Along those lines, Integral Design has put forward an easily carried, single-part smartphone stand it calls the Keyprop (funding through June 1).

The Keyprop is made up of a polycarbonate core encased within an elastic copolymer coating, creating a rigid yet grippy item. The key-shaped stand plugs a middle prong into your headphone jack, the fore prong resting against the edge of the face of your phone while your keyring sits next to the base. (With an iPhone 5, you use the Lightning port instead.) The team suggests piling keys underneath to adjust angles. For purposes of video calls, media viewing, or reading, say, your device is now propped up at a useful angle. Integral Design says the Keyprop should works with most smartphones and cases more slender than half an inch.

Each backer who spends at least $15 will also get a companion app, KeyCam. The currently iOS-only program adds a time delay or clap-activation to your phone’s camera.

When this story was published, the project was approaching two thirds of its $30,000 funding goal. If successful, $15 will get you a Keyprop in your choice of red, blue, light blue, lime green, grey, or black with an estimated August delivery. For $25, you can order two devices in pre-chosen color pairings. And at $50, you get one of each item in Integral Design’s library of products for $50: a Keyprop in your choice of color, a collapsible sunglass case, compact chopsticks, and credit card ruler decals.

Confidence level

Integral Designs is a Kickstarter veteran, with its Flipcase project having reached almost three times its original goal—and having successfully shipped to all backers only a month after the expected schedule.

This story, "Keyprop puts a smartphone tripod in your pocket" was originally published by
TechHive.

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